The Optimist (New Young Pony Club album)

The Optimist
Studio album by
New Young Pony Club
Released 5 March 2010
Recorded The Glue Factory
Genre
Length 45:27
Label The Numbers
Producer
New Young Pony Club chronology
Fantastic Playroom
(2007) 		The Optimist
(2010) 		NYPC
(2013)
Singles from The Optimist
  1. "Lost a Girl"
    Released: 20 December 2009 (promotional)
  2. "Chaos"
    Released: 28 February 2010
  3. "We Want To"
    Released: 30 May 2010
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 61/100
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic
Clash 7/10
The Daily Telegraph
Drowned in Sound 6/10
The Guardian
musicOMH
NME 8/10
Pitchfork 5.5/10
PopMatters 4/10

The Optimist is the second studio album by English band New Young Pony Club. It was released on 5 March 2010 on the band's label The Numbers, distributed by the PIAS Entertainment Group. The album showcases a darker, more emotive sound for the band. The songs "Oh Cherie" and "Lost a Girl" were used, respectively, in the third and fourth episodes of the fourth season of Gossip Girl.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Tahita Bulmer and Andy Spence, except where noted

No. Title Length
1. "Lost a Girl" 4:21
2. "Chaos" 3:39
3. "The Optimist" 5:36
4. "Stone" 4:10
5. "We Want To" 4:42
6. "Dolls" 3:16
7. "Before the Light" 5:28
8. "Oh Cherie" 5:04
9. "Rapture" 4:23
10. "Architect of Love" 4:48
iTunes Store bonus tracks
No. Title Length
11. "Chaos" (Manic Street Preachers South Wales Swamp Mix) 3:34
12. "Chaos" (music video) (UK and Europe only) 3:17
13. "Lost a Girl" (music video) (UK only) 4:22
Japanese edition bonus tracks
No. Title Length
11. "Dress" (writer: PJ Harvey) 3:30
12. "Chaos" (Rory Phillips Mix) 5:11
13. "Chaos" (Johan and Dekker Remix) 7:12
14. "Chaos" (Melé Remix) 5:56

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Optimist.

New Young Pony Club

  • Tahita Bulmer – performer, production
  • Lou Hayter – extra vocals (tracks 2, 3, 5, 7), extra piano (track 7)
  • Sarah Jones – drums (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5), extra vocals (tracks 2, 3, 5), additional drums (tracks 3, 6–8)
  • Andy Spence – performer, production

Additional personnel

  • Pete Fraser – saxophone (track 3)
  • Liz Harry – art direction, design
  • Mark McNulty – photography
  • Al O'Connel – drum engineering (track 2)
  • Morgan Quaintance – heys (track 1), extra Vox (track 4)
  • Craig Silvey – mixing
  • Tom Stanley – drum engineering (tracks 1, 4, 5)

Charts

Chart (2010) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC) 161
UK Independent Albums (OCC) 15

Release history

Region Date Label Ref.
Ireland 5 March 2010 The Numbers
United Kingdom 8 March 2010
Australia 19 March 2010 Liberator
France 5 April 2010 PIAS
Germany 16 April 2010 PIAS Integral
Japan 21 April 2010 Hostess
United States 4 May 2010 PIAS America